Days End Farm Horse Rescue
With special thanks to our supporters. We couldn’t do what we do without your dedicated support. Inside this issue: •
Celebrating 30 Years
•
When to Call the Authorities
•
DEFHR as a Reflection of Our Community
•
CEO Presents at Right Horse Summit in Kentucky
•
Kindness Remembered
•
Keeping Weight on the Senior Horse
•
How’s Your Relationship with Your Horse?
•
A Volunteer’s Perspective
•
Volunteer Orientation Starts in the Classroom
•
Where Are They Now? Updates from Former Interns
•
A Job Will Do Retired Racehorses Good
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Ex-Racehorse Finley Deserves a Second Chance
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How Racehorses are Handled
•
Horses Bring Humane Education to Youths
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Spring/Early Summer Bring 41 Rescues to DEFHR
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Celebrating a Few of Our 23 Rescues in Their New Homes
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 3
by Susan Rosenberg, Horse Talk Editor
W
hen Kathleen Howe and her then husband Allan Schwartz chose to save a skeletal horse named Toby 30 years ago, they had no idea how many lives would be touched by that single ac on. They knew they wanted their deep love of animals to be a founda on for their young family, and when they saw Toby was ng away they decided to bring him home so the family could work together to save him. The children could learn compassion and see firsthand how they could make an impact. Li le did they know that Toby would lead to the founding of an organiza on responsible for saving over 2,460 horses, educa ng tens of thousands of people, establishing equine care standards, helping develop an equine Obinna Chinemere (center) presents Senatorial citation curriculum guide to CEO Erin Clemm Ochoa (right) commending the for educators, organization’s good works. Left is Dana Scanlon, collabora ng with DEFHR Board Member. industry movers and shakers like The Right Horse Ini a ve, and building a social network 120,000 strong. DEFHR’s Equine Programs Director DeE e Hillman has presented evidence and tes mony on behalf of the horses in court, helping win res tu on for the innocent vic ms. She has also partnered with boots-on-the-ground responders helping rescue large animals a1er hurricanes and earthquakes. Chief Execu ve Officer Erin Clemm Ochoa has traveled far and wide collabora ng, building partnerships, advoca ng for the horse and lobbying for change. Today, DEFHR is a key thought-leader for the Maryland Horse Council and Maryland’s Horse Industry Board, and is considered the leading equine rescue organiza on throughout the east coast. It has won numerous awards, such as a cita on presented to Erin last April by Senator Van Hollen recognizing DEFHR for excellent work in rehabilita ng and re-homing horses, fostering compassion for horses, and being recognized as the na onal model for horse rescue. He also thanked our volunteers and supporters for their civic engagement. It has been a produc ve and impac:ul 30 years! Cont’d on pg. 4
Spring/ Summer 2019, pg. 4 Board of Directors Chair - Alexandra M. Ledbetter, Esq. Vice Chair - Kathr yn Michel Treasurer - Christopher Schaefer , CFP, CPA Secretary - Lindsey M. Groff, Esq. Christa Cooper Susan Flaherty, PhD Eliza Harvey, DVM, PhD Lisa Havilland, Esq. Jill Howson Carolyn Nordberg Chris Oxenham Dana Scanlon, GRI, CIPS Yoram Tanay, CA Wayne M. Willoughby, Esq. Erin Clemm Ochoa, CEO (CPM) (Ex-Officio) Auxiliary Members Chris Gordon,,Caroline Griffin, Esq. Lisa Grimm, Esq. Christina King. Robin Sagoskin Advisory Council William Boldon, Brittany Ebbertt, Richard Forfa DVM, Sigrid Haines, Mark Lash, Michael Muul DDS, Venkat Murthy, Carolyn “Nicky” Ratliff, Lynne Shupple A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting: Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc. PO Box 309, Lisbon, MD 21765 (301) 854-5037 · (410) 442-1564 www.defhr.org · info@defhr.or g Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available on our website at: www.defhr.org/about/financial-statements Information contained in Horse Talk is the opinion of the authors and may not reflect the opinion of DEFHR affiliates. DEFHR is a non-profit animal welfare organization established in 1989 to ensure quality care and treatment of horses through intervention, education and outreach. DEFHR exists primarily on donations from individuals and businesses. Donations may be made by check, money order, Visa, MasterCard or Discover. To make a credit card donation, call (301) 854-5037 or (410) 442-1564. Donations are tax deductible under IRS Tax Code 501(c)3. CFC #11897
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Remembering Toby Cont’d from pg. 3 Across three decades since our founding, the organiza on has not lost sight of the main reason for being—the fact that there are horses who need help. We remember Toby who would have died if the Howe-Schwartz’s had not intervened. At the top of every strategic plan, the one goal that precedes all others is “Help More Horses,” and that means fostering partnerships. Many mes over the years, DEFHR has joined others in impounding, transpor ng and providing care to large herds. You may remember the 133 Polish Arabians rescued in 2011 from a breeding farm in Queen Anne’s County. DEFHR took in many of them, and has helped with other significantly large horse impounds from the east coast to the west coast. Con nually wan ng to broaden and expand our reach, we have taken in horses to be trained/re-homed from overtaxed organiza ons like the ASPCA. We are also networking with other rescues to get more horses adopted, while beefing up our marke ng efforts, leading to an astounding 78 horses being adopted last year alone—a record for DEFHR.
Vision for the Future As reflected in our mission, educa on has always been an integral component of ensuring quality treatment of horses. The rescue horses we see have been abused or neglected, so it is vital to raise awareness so people know when to call the authori es, or who to call when an owner can no longer care for their animals. The Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company that owns the property next door to us on Woodbine Road will be reloca ng to a larger building that is under construc on nearby, leaving their current building empty. DEFHR is exploring the possibility of purchasing the three-acre lot, and the building which could house a welcome center, cri cal care barn, offices and classroom space. “The classroom space we now have can accommodate 60 people,” said Nicky Wetzelberger, Outreach Director, “and we some mes have to turn people away, like school groups, which we hate to do. We need space for 250.” This property would enable us to educate significantly more people. This is s ll in the exploratory phase, but we are looking into it. Allan le1 DEFHR several years a1er its founding, but Kathy remained as its Execu ve Director un l five years ago when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and felt she could no longer lead without puKng it at risk. She turned the reins over to our current Chief Execu ve Officer Erin Clemm Ochoa. “In the equine welfare industry, 70 percent of rescues fail within three years,” said Erin. If there’s a secret ingredient to Days End’s survival, it might be rooted in being cleareyed about what’s important and what’s achievable. “One of the things that Kathy pressed on me was to stay true to the mission so you’re always steering the boat in the right direc on,” Erin recalled. (See “Days End Farm: Saving abused horses for 30 years in Howard County,” by Janine Holzberg, the Bal$more Sun, April 1, 2019.)
Acknowledging Community DEFHR’s achievements would not have been possible without the high-quality people involved in the day-to-day opera ons, those involved today and those who supported us from day one. Some of the people involved now are staff members whose dedica on and passion are commendable. Many of them are recognized in the horse industry for their exper se in their respec ve fields. They all are eager to share their knowledge with others in the hopes that it will help even one single horse. Some of the ar cles in this issue reflect their willingness to share. Despite heavy workloads taking care of horses already here, quaran ning and caring for dozens of new arrivals, preparing for summer events and educa onal programs, trips to longdistance conven ons, etc., Equine Programs Director DeE e Hillman, Equine Health Director Meagan Walters, and Outreach Director Nicky Wetzelberger took me out to put words to paper and connect with our community.
Days End Farm Horse Rescue Nicky believes our loyal, strong, passionate community is the key to our longevity and success. For more on how we engage community and how we are a reflec on of that community, read Nicky’s ar cle on pg. 4. One way we con nually engage our community and sing their praises is to hold events, like our annual Horse Rescue Gala. This year we held it at Laurel Park, Maryland, in April, with NBC news reporter Chris Gordon. It was a memorable event where we raised over $100,000 for the horses, and made many new friends. Some of our equine ambassadors were on hand to welcome guests. More events will be Outreach Director Nicky Wetzelbeger, CEO held this year to commemorate this Erin Clemm Ochoa and Development Director Caroline Robertson with Yoseph at the Gala
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 5 30-year milestone. Be sure to check our Calendar of Events page for mes and places, or simply be sure we have your email address to send you announcements. We hope you will come celebrate with us!
Training team and equine ambassadors on hand to welcome Horse Rescue Gala guests: Ziporah with Pam Wheeler, Vinni with Leigha Schrader, Yoseph with Daria Heiger
Animal Control was called in. She was brought to DEFHR, but it was too late to save her. All we could do was surround her with by DeEtte Hillman, Equine Programs Director loving care and provide her a painless death. id you know Maryland has more horses per square Animal cruelty most o1en comes in the form of neglect. With mile than any other state? Pennsylvania is one of the horses, this means inadequate food and fresh water, lack of top ten horse states, and horse numbers are climbing shelter or veterinary care. Direct abuse, when you see someone in Virginia. That means hundreds of thousands of horses live bea ng or physically a acking an animal, is more visible and among us, right in our own communi es. easy to recognize. If you see this, it’s crucial to involve law Are they all thriving? We know for a fact they are not. enforcement quickly, as violence toward animals is o1en part of Informa on on how many are being abused or neglected is slim a larger pa ern of violence that can include people as well. or nonexistent, so it’s up to people like you to keep an eye out If you see a horse that is thin, has li le or no quality food or and report suspected animal cruelty. fresh water for days at a me, has an open wound that has not been treated, or hooves that are grossly overgrown, call your local animal control agency as soon as possible. In Bal more City, you can dial 311; outside the city, dial 911 if you’re unfamiliar with local animal control organiza ons. When you call, be as detailed as you can with what you saw, how many animals, where, when (date and me), frequency of sigh ngs (were they over a period of days or weeks, say?). It’s best if you provide your name and address in case the responders need more informa on from you a1er they inves gate, but it’s not necessary to do so if you are concerned about your privacy. If you make a report of alleged animal cruelty, the responding agency is required to inves gate. If you want to know what was done with the informa on you provided, you can call back within a few weeks. If you are not sa sfied that correc ve ac on was taken and you keep witnessing neglect at the same loca on, call DEFHR at 301-854-5037. We will take down your informa on and follow up with the authori es. Asara was in our own county, slowly starving to death away Please take ac on when you suspect animal cruelty. You can from compassionate eyes. When the owner was being evicted help us fulfill our mission of ensuring that horses like Asara from her home, Asara was discovered and Howard County receive the quality care and treatment they deserve.
When to Call the Authorities
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Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 6
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
DEFHR as a Reflection of Our Community by Nicky Wetzelberger, Outreach Director
O
ver the last 30 years, DEFHR has been fortunate to connect with a vast community of beau ful people— people who want to give of their me, energy and talents to help horses heal, educate others about the unwanted horse problem, and work to stop horse abuse and neglect. At first it was a small group of local people, mostly family and friends of the founder. This early grassroots community gradually blossomed into one that goes far beyond our gates, reaching across the globe. Thanks to founder Kathy Schwartz-Howe’s vision 30 years ago, DEFHR has been a place for the movers and shakers to come be a voice of change, providing them with the tools to have a las ng impact.
projects;” the bond and rela onship Leigha forms with each horse is truly remarkable. She excels at trick training, using it as an aid to build their once broken confidence and deepen the horse-human connec on and partnership.
Here’s one story that illustrates this: When DEFHR began in 1989, Kathy had no idea how many neglected horses might be out there in her immediate community (meaning Howard County primarily, and perhaps Maryland in general). She and her family together took care of Toby, their first rescue. It soon became evident, though, that there were a lot of others like Toby needing interven on. Word spread about the family’s success with Toby, and calls began coming in about horses needing help. To be able to take more in, though, they would need volunteers.
Nicky Wetzelberger and one of DEFHR’s rescues. During those early days, volunteers began coming and so did the horses. Over me, more volunteers came, more horses, then more volunteers. Fast forward to today when more than 1,200 people volunteer every year! One young woman named Leigha Schrader started volunteering in 2009 at age 12. She had no horse experience, yet set large goals for herself, including being on DEFHR's training team. She spent thousands of hours at the farm, learned from staff and eventually joined the training team. As a teenager, she did an internship working closely with head trainer Sara Strauss, and discovered she had a real talent for helping horses transform into fun partners for people. She has taken on several “training
Leigha, volunteer-turned-trainer-turned staff, with Vinni mingling at a local fair. Leigha joined DEFHR’s staff and now spends her days training the rescue horses so they can go on to be adopted or help spread awareness of equine abuse and neglect out in the community. Through community events and social media, the horses and Leigha are making a huge impact every day! DEFHR without community would be like a school without students. Our community members—donors, volunteers, program par cipants and all other supporters—are the backbone of the organiza on. They enable us to be leaders in equine welfare and fulfill our mission of protec ng horses and educa ng people. Educa on is crucial for crea ng las ng change for future genera ons and preven ng horse neglect and abuse from ever happening. Because our community is so diverse and comes with such a wide variety of interests and talents, DEFHR has been able to provide a wealth of opportuni es for volunteers to get involved. If you’re a writer, our grants team is for you; if you’re a builder, look no further than our farm opera ons team; if you want to be a veterinarian, our equine rehabilita on internship will give you the tools needed to jumpstart your career; and so on. DEFHR has something for everyone–from the re red educator to the eight-year-old horse lover. As long as you have a passion for helping, learning and doing, DEFHR is the place for you. Another burgeoning facet of our community is program par cipants. Since 1989, our educa on programs have grown substan ally. Every year we are increasing the number of
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 7
people educated and crea ng new programs to reach even more people. With that being said, at the end of the day, our core values and lessons have stayed the same. It’s all about the horse. Through our growth and inclusion of new programs like homeschool classes, summer camps, scout days, volunteer trainings and new internships, we have been able to reach more people but keep our core values and roots in what we do best and what we are passionate about: helping more horses. We are con nually looking at ways to connect even more people with horses. People can learn so much from a horse’s ability to mirror our own emo ons and show us how well (or not) we are communica ng. The more opportuni es we can create for the public to come on site and a end an educa onal session whether it is a corporate training, team building day, women’s club, youth group or field trip, the more horses we will in turn be helping. “DEFHR without community would be like a school without students.” Our history tells us that once we get a new community member to set foot on DEFHR’s Throughout the year, we welcome community members from organizations farm, they’ll be here for a long me. And once like Leadership Howard County (pictured above left), Young Khalsa Girls, they leave, they will be be er for having schools, colleges, scouts and many others to the farm for field trips and known us. learning opportunities. From me to me, other nonprofits ask us, “What is the key to your success?” The truth is, it is our loyal, strong, passionate community. The donor who trusts us to use their hard-earned dollars wisely to protect horses, the staff member who stops to show a new volunteer how to pick up a horse’s hoof, the volunteer who signs up to lead an 8th grade field trip, the intern who takes new visitors on a farm tour. . . we are all a reflec on of our community. We tell other nonprofits: “Surround yourself with people who share your vision, are dedicated and passionate about your mission, and you will succeed.”
CEO Presents at Right Horse Summit in Kentucky The Right Horse Ini*a*ve is working to change the equine industry, with the specific goal of massively increasing the number of successful horse adop ons in the U.S. “by working together to reframe the adop on conversa on and sha er the s gma surrounding horses in transi on.” This year they held a thought leadership summit in Lexington, Kentucky, May 2223, to “challenge the status quo through collabora on and innova on to increase horse adop on.” At the summit, which was open to current Right Horse partners and the public, CEO Erin Clemm Ochoa was a featured speaker, on the topic of “The Companion Horse: Marke ng and Placement Tips.”
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 8
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
courage to speak up. These unsung heroes by Joy DeMatteis, Volunteer are cri cal to geKng very horse has a story. Every horse has a hero. Every help to these horses. me I lead a farm tour for drop-in visitors or field trips, As the horses I tell a horse’s story. Again and again, the story begins journey along the with someone no cing something and someone doing rehabilita on something to help a horse in need. process, it seems like me dims the Some mes it is easy to recognize and acknowledge the hero. In Wicomico County in March 2018, more than 25 dead horses and memory of who over 100 horses in poor condi on were found a1er a neighbor ini ated the rescue no fied WBOC-TV. A helicopter crew exposed the horror in and who responded. graphic video. In 2015, the case involving severe hoof neglect of The ribs are covered horses locked in stalls for more than a decade got interna onal by a layer of fat, the a en on. Quest, Rio and a mare who did not survive were coat grows glossy, discovered by a Washington County animal control officer who and new homes are Joy, with Mazie was called out to check on the welfare of pigeons and did due found. Rest is given to those too broken to heal. No ma er how the story ends, the diligence. Usually the name of the whistleblower is not generally known. It kindness done deserves to be remembered and truly makes a difference in the life of the horse. can be a family member, a neighbor or a visitor who has the
Kindness Remembered
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Keeping Weight on the Senior Horse by Meagan Walters, (Former) Equine Health Manager
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'm having trouble keeping weight on my older horse. What can I do? This is something I have been asked about o1en over the years. Usually my first response is, "Have you had his teeth done recently?" Many people underes mate how important dental work is for a horse, especially rou ne floats for an older horse.
Proper feeding and care keeps 30-year-old Daphne in healthy weight. She is available for adoption at petfinder.com. Once we get past that, it can be helpful to do some bloodwork with a vet checkup. This will rule out any poten al condi ons or diseases such as Cushing disease that may need to be addressed along with the weight gain.
Inevitably, we come back to feeding the senior horse. If their teeth are worn smooth or they are missing some, they may need a forage subs tute instead of hay. This may be something like chopped forage or even soaked alfalfa and mothy pellets/ cubes. For those seniors that can s ll chew well, free choice good quality hay is very important—quality over quan ty! Perhaps something like a so1, higher protein second cuKng hay would be good. Grass is a great forage op on; many seniors are greatly en ced into ea ng it, and it is chewed and digested fairly easily even with compromised teeth. O1en mes forage is not enough for our guys in their golden years, in which case we add grain and addi onal supplements to their diets. A good quality senior feed (not "sweet feed"!) is formulated especially for older horses to easily digest and absorb the nutrients. Several feedings may be needed for the older kids and/ or addi onal fat supplements may need to be added. A common fat supplement that is added at DEFHR is Cocosoya Oil. There are many other op ons available as well in various forms, such as oils, powders and pellets. Of course, clean fresh water should always be available as well as access to salt. Without going on for too long, there are a couple other considera ons. Blanke ng older horses in the winter and making sure they have access to good shelter can help keep them from losing precious weight by trying to stay warm. I also like to get an older horse’s weight up in summer when grass is available so they have a li le extra going into the harsher seasons, so I may not cut back their meals as much in spring/summer when I see them star ng to gain again. Each horse in unique and plans should be made accordingly, but senior horses should be able to enjoy their golden years. while maintaining their horsey figure!
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 10
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
How’s Your Relationship With Your Horse? by Tim Hayes, Guest Contributor
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ost problems people have in horseback riding, (which is more natural and understandable to the horse) and whether English or Western, are not with their then on his back. If my horse isn’t responding to me with riding; they’re with the quality of the rela onship willingness and respect on the ground then I need to ask myself, they have with their horse. In order for any rela onship to work is he truly responding to me when we ride or is he deciding to –horse or human–there must always be mutual love, trust and accommodate me just to get it over with? respect. Have you ever ridden very well in a show and then, as you led One way to improve your equine rela onship is with the your horse back to the barn, been pulled around as he keeps methods of natural horsemanship. Natural horsemanship begins diving for grass? Have you ridden your horse on a trail or in a by teaching us horse psychology. This gives us the knowledge of ring when he suddenly spooks or becomes anxious and nothing how and why the horse you do seems to calm thinks and feels about him down to his or everything in his world. your sa sfac on? This provides us with Knowing that you and the understanding and your horse love each the explana ons as to other, have you ever why our horse wondered why he/she some mes resists our can be so difficult at requests. Without this mes? knowledge we don’t There are thousands know if our horse is of excellent resis ng because of professionals who fear, disrespect, teach horseback misunderstanding or riding in every pain. How can we help possible discipline: our horse if we don’t Jumping, Dressage, know what he’s trying Trail Riding, Polo, to tell us? Barrel Racing and Relationships with horses begin on the ground. How a horse thinks and Reining. However feels is always expressed physically in his body language, e.g., what is so o1en missing is the necessary mental and emo onal ear pinning, kicking, bi ng, licking & chewing, bucking, etc. Body understanding necessary for a quality rela onship, which is language is how horses communicate with other horses, and if always achieved most effec vely when begun on the ground. we are going to truly communicate with horses, we must learn Create a rela onship of mutual love, trust, respect and understanding before you sit on his back. When you get your and use their language. rela onship right with your horse, he’ll always give you his best Learning his language, we immediately know what our horse is performance because he’s already given you his heart. saying to us with his physical behavior. Then we can appropriately respond whether we’re on the ground or on his Some mes instead of asking, “how is my riding?” a be er back. When we respond appropriately our horse realizes we ques on to ask is “how is my rela onship?” When it comes to understand what he’s trying to tell us. Then he begins to trust, horses these are my priori es: Do I feel safe, am I having fun, does my horse respond to me as his leader and then, am I respect and eventually look to us as his leader. achieving my goals? If not, what do I need to do to have me and Without this knowledge of what and why our horse thinks and my horse become safer, calmer, more confident, more feels, the only way we can interpret our horse’s behavior is by respec:ul and more fun to ride? The answer is not about guessing or assuming or asking our friends. O1en this can be frustra ng, providing many different answers that are very o1en working on my riding; it’s about working on the quality of my confusing or wrong. Without offering the right response, we are rela onship with my horse. Tim Hayes is the author of RIDING HOME–The Power of Horses to Heal. unable to effec vely communicate, correct and thus eliminate It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves the undesirable behavior of our horse. that is accessible to everyone and found in the pages this book. To learn The goal of all equine rela onships is a posi ve willing more about the book please visit: www.ridinghome.com. Every book partnership with the horse happily accep ng his human as his ordered will benefit children of families in need, veterans with PTSD and leader. Tradi onal horsemanship usually focuses on riding with children with au$sm. To contact and for more ar$cles and blogs by Tim physical communica on between human and horse. Natural Hayes go to: www.hayesisforhorses.com. This ar cle was adapted with permission. horsemanship teaches how to communicate with the horse mentally, emo onally as well as physically, first on the ground
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 11
A Volunteer’s Perspective by Lauren Arianna Raskin, 9th grader at the Poolesville Global Ecology Magnet School
K
indness, compassion, selflessness—these are words that come to mind when I think of Days End Farm. These are the set of values each person, whether they be staff, interns or volunteers, seem to embody. Every me I step foot on the farm, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gra tude. How wonderful a place, and it is is accessible, not only to me, but to those who have the same passion for horses as I do, the same burning sense of commitment and dedica on to help horses who were previously abused and neglected. Through my work at DEFHR, I have been exposed to the harshness of life, the degree of evil which certain individuals are capable of. I have seen horses with eyes that are darkened by a haze of sadness and uncertainty, with ribs that peak out underneath their lice ridden skin, and with overgrown hooves that twist and turn at unnatural angles. And yet, through this exposure, I have also observed the extent to which people are willing to sacrifice their me and energy, all for the sake of giving a poten al second chance at life to an animal in need. I have watched as our staff members work relessly, around the clock, ensuring that the chores at the farm are completed, and administering medicine to sick animals. Despite the fact that the staff o1en work long hours, o1en heightened by a steady influx of rescue horses, they do so with a smile, always quick to answer new volunteers’ ques ons and educate people on topics they may have previously answered many mes before. I whole-heartedly admire the interns and deeply respect the way they frequently wake up during the middle of the night for the purpose of taking vitals of ailing horses in cri cal condi on. And, of course, one could hardly forget the insurmountable effort of the volunteers who, when not a ending school or work, spend hours of me on the farm, trea ng each horse as if they were a member of the family. But, perhaps the reason DEFHR is such an impressive place is that it unifies people; regardless of race, ethnicity, culture or socio-economic status, DEFHR bonds individuals over a shared love for horses. Through my work as a volunteer at DEFHR, I
have established lifelong friendships with people whom I consider nothing less than family, people I would most likely have never had the pleasure of knowing, had I not joined this community. One of the most fulfilling experiences through volunteering with horse chores has been observing the transforma on of feeble, almost lifeless, beings into the magnificent creatures God intended them to be. As me passes, some of the horses’ heads begin to li1, flames of curiosity can be seen in their eyes as they shower the volunteers and staff in cascades of gracious kisses. Personali es begin to become apparent, previously masked by vulnerable shells, generated by fear and illness. Once the rescued horses are groomed and ready to be put out in the fields to eat with fellow Volunteer Lauren Raskin with a horse companions, they horse she met on a class trip can be seen to prance around gleefully, basking in a sense of new found confidence and wellbeing. The knowledge and experience I have gained while working at DEFHR for the last 2 ½ years have been priceless. I remember like it was yesterday my parents accompanying me to check out DEFHR because of my interest in working with animals. In my role as a volunteer, whether I’m mucking stalls, helping to feed animals, giving a tour of the property to interested prospec ve volunteers, teaching a class to new par cipants or serving as a mentor, I know I will con nue to engage in some form of this kind of important work for the rest of my life. A1er all, animals are not human, and they ma er!
Volunteer Orientation Starts in the Classroom On a cold, gray Saturday morning last January, we were inspired and excited for the start of a new year when 75 people came to the farm for volunteer orienta on. All newcomers were members of the community who want to make a difference and help horses in need. Only twelve days into the new year, we already had one adop on, held one of our highest a ended orienta ons, and welcomed three horses into our rehabilita on program. To learn about becoming a volunteer visit our website.
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 12
Where Are They Now? Updates from Former Interns Each year, Days End Farm Horse Rescue welcomes interns from around the USA and other parts of the world, with diverse backgrounds, interests and goals. Upon completion of their internship at DEFHR, many interns pursue careers and opportunities in the equine industry, education or other animal-related professions. We want to know where their journeys take them post-DEFHR. Here are some updates from past interns: Melissa Sim, Singapore, 2011 - Melissa graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. She currently resides in New Zealand and is an equine veterinarian. She also aids her local SPCA with animal welfare cases.
Kelly Breuls, Belgium, Fall 2016 - A1er her internship, Kelly returned to Belgium and graduated with an agrobiotechnology degree in 2016. She currently lives in Australia and is working as a groom for show jumping horses.
Saira Mary Ortega, Puerto Rico, Summer 2015 - A1er her three-month internship with DEFHR, Saira graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors from Universidad Metropolitana in Puerto Rico. She's now enrolled in graduate school at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee and wants to complete a master in veterinary biomedical science.
Bianca Leos, Texas, Fall 2014 - Bianca received her undergraduate in biochemistry from Bowdoin College in Maine. In 2019, she graduated from Tu1s Veterinary School and moved to Texas to work as a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital.
Lauren Harding, Ireland, Spring 2017 - Upon comple on of her internship, Lauren returned to the University of Limerick and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science with Third Class Honors. Lauren is currently pursuing a career with in the mounted police unit in Dublin. Sabine Møltoft Sjøding, Denmark, Spring 2016 - At the end of her internship with DEFHR, Sabine returned to Denmark and is currently enrolled in vet school and hopes to prac ce as a large animal veterinarian upon gradua on. Savanna Shopay, Utah, Spring 2016 - Savanna is working on her adap ve recrea on degree and wants to offer horseback riding lessons for children with disabili es. She is also an assistant teacher at a school for children with au sm in Phoenix, Arizona. Emma Spooner, England, Fall 2014 - A1er her internship, she moved to Australia and worked at an Australian Equine Behavior Center. She returned to the UK and graduated from NoKngham Trent University in 2016. She recently took a job at Cambridge University, King's College, as an outreach officer. Kelsey Smith, New York, Fall 2015 - A1er her internship, Kelsey returned to NY and received her PATH Therapeu c Riding Instructor cer fica on. She is employed at HorseAbility, as therapeutic riding center, instructor and volunteer coordinator.
Kathryn Sackett, Missouri, Summer 2016 - Kathryn graduated with a degree in Agricultural business from Truman State University. She is a veterinarian technician at an equine hospital in Missouri with plans to a end veterinary school and become a large animal vet with a focus in equines. Cailyn Gordon, Maine, Summer 2017 - Since her internship with Days End, Cailyn graduated from University of Minnesota Crookston with a degree in Equine/Animal Science. She is now head barn staff at a boarding stable in Fisher, Minnesota. Allison Rooney, Pennsylvania, Fall 2017 - Allison graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Biology. She is currently enrolled in vet school at the University of Pennsylvania and wants to pursue a career focused in equine and large animal medicine. Yuan Kang, California, Spring 2014 - A1er her internship at DEFHR, Yuan graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 and now works in small animal general prac ce in San Jose, CA. Lindsey Stull, Florida, Fall 2017 - Lindsey is a student at University of Central Florida majoring in Pre-Vet and Biology. She is employed as a Veterinary Technician at Oviedo Veterinary Care and Emergency. Upon gradua on and comple ng her undergraduate degree, Lindsey plans to a end vet school.
Julie Summerfield, Intern 2017, writes: Passion, dedica$on, pa$ence and a desire to educate are only a few of the things that come to mind when thinking of Days End. I have learned more than I can find words to describe. This internship was truly a life altering experience. I started the internship with a love for horses but I le8 with a passion. If one has a desire to learn about horses, Days End is a perfect place. The staff would do everything they could to teach me and answer my ques$ons. The lessons I have learned in welfare and rehabilita$on are some that will stay with me as I con$nue on a path to becoming a veterinarian. I genuinely cannot thank the staff and volunteers enough for all they have taught me. I am so pleased to now be working at DEFHR as a Barn Assistant! Julie has joined our Barn Assistant team!
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 13
Meet These Former Interns Who Are Now Veterinarians In January of this year, two of our previous interns passed their North American Veterinary Licensing Exam to become veterinarians! Congratula*ons to Bianca Leos and Riley Newson. We are so proud of their accomplishments and happy that their journeys to becoming veterinarians included an internship at DEFHR and learning from our horses and staff.
Bianca Rios, from Texas
Riley Newson, from Missouri
Are you a former intern? We would like to hear from you! Please send your update and a photo to outreach@defhr.org. To APPLY to be an intern at DEFHR, visit our website.
Welcome to Your New Home, Patrolman Pete! We are thrilled to announce that our equine ambassador herd has gained a new member! Once again, the Bal more Police Mounted Unit has chosen DEFHR for another of their to-be-re red loyal mounts. Patrolman Pete, a 20-year-old Belgian dra1 horse that has faithfully served the City of Bal more for the past 10 years (and worked alongside Officer Barney!) was recently re red from the force and is now ac ng as an equine ambassador at Days End. As an equine ambassador, horses like Barney and Pete help train animal welfare professionals and the general public about equine neglect, abuse and responsible care. Welcome to your new home, Pete!
Our Goats Playing on Their New Gym Many thanks go to the Eagle Scout who chose to build this wonderful gym for his Service Project. We are grateful for the support from our community and local scouts who help enrich the habitats for our animals.
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” –Anatole France
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 14
A Job Will Do Retired Racehorses Good
J
ust like humans, most horses benefit from having a purpose in life. “I think any horse that con nues to be useful and contribute to things on a daily basis has a much greater sense of well-being than one that does not have a job,” says Karyn Malinowski, PhD, Director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center in New Jersey. She has studied equine physiology and aging in horses extensively. She fondly recalls Lord Nelson, a former mounted patrol horse at Rutgers who, a1er re ring at age 25, made it clear he s ll wanted a job. He came out of re rement to serve as an advocate for environmental stewardship on farms and con nued galloping around his field un l his death at the ripe old age of 42. “I think there’s absolutely a place for re red racehorses who aren’t 100 percent sound to s ll have an ac ve life and contribu on to society,” Malinowski says. For instance, OTTBs with quiet disposi ons can make for excellent par cipants in equine assisted therapy programs and camps, whether simply doing ac vi es on the ground or teaching a rider to walk and trot. “That may not seem like a big job, but that horse s ll has a purpose in its life,” she says. “I think you can see from their outward signs that they enjoy interac ng with people, being brushed and exposed to people—when whistled to they come to the gate.”
And the physical s mula on is just as important as the mental. Malinowski performed an exercise study on a group of 25–to 35 -year-old Standardbred ex-racehorses. Each one spent 30 minutes on an Equi-Ciser three days a week; within three or four weeks, the research team noted obvious improvements in the horses’ fitness and comfort. “In the morning they were wai ng by the paddock gates for their turn to get on the machine,” she says. “When they finished and were turned back out, they were heels up in the air, playing and running around. As former racehorses, you know they had aches and pains and arthri s going on in those old joints, but they were s ll bucking amd running around those paddocks because they felt so good.” While Malinowski is a proponent of leKng a horse be a horse and do anything it’s physically capable of doing, she emphasizes the importance of knowing when you’re pushing one to its limits: “If it shows signs of being uncomfortable or needs to be medicated with non-steroidal an -inflammatories on a regular basis, it’s me to back off.” Originally published in Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine (“Don’t Call Them Useless,” Summer 2018). Reprinted with permission from the Re$red Racehorse Project. Want more OTTB content? Become an RRP member at re$redracehorseproject.org.
Ex-Racehorse Finley Deserves a Second Chance
A
s Thoroughbred names go, Hurricane Blues seemed a good one to bestow on a flashy 2-year-old being registered for the racetrack. The name was hopeful for a horse that would be fast and furious, and earn lots of money for his owner. On the track, though, the Thoroughbred’s strides didn’t match up to expecta ons. Hurricane Blues was foaled in 2005, of dam Holy Paree and sire Holy Bull. He had his first race in 2008, with $0 earnings. He never raced again. We don’t know what happened to Hurricane Blues between 2008 and 2019, but this year he was found wandering in Somerset County, Maryland, and reported to animal control. On inves ga ng the incident, authori es found the owner and discovered that the horse kept geKng out of the fence. The owner didn’t want the horse back, and DEFHR was called for assistance. On March 29, Hurricane Blues was DEFHR’s sixth intake since the beginning of the year. We rename every horse coming here as standard opera ng procedures, going through the alphabet, and he became Finley. We were eager to help because he was on the thin side, his hooves and teeth had been neglected, and he needed to be dewormed. He deserved to be given the best quality care and treatment as a neglected off-the-track Thoroughbred.
Soon a1er arriving, Finley started bleeding from his nose and mouth. A1er examining him, the vet ordered radiography and
Finley enjoying the DEFHR pasture endoscopy to rule out certain diseases and prescribed an bio cs for possible sinusi s. Finley has responded to treatment and has not had a recurrence of the bleeding. Once he is through rehab, he will be available for adop on.
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 15
How Racehorses Are Handled by Tracy Gantz, Guest Contributor
T
he way your OTTB was groomed, ridden and managed at the track will differ—for be er or worse—from his new rou ne as a riding horse. Garden hoses, moun ng blocks and cross es—you’ll find all three at almost any stable, no ma er the discipline. But if an offtrack Thoroughbred arrives straight from the racetrack, he might never have set eyes on any of them. An unfamiliarity with these objects might require extra pa ence and basic training. However, many off-track Thoroughbreds actually have much be er manners than their nonracing peers. Racehorses train in a highly organized way, being handled daily according to a strict rou ne. Some handling techniques are the same as those the horses will encounter in their second careers, while others will need a li le tweaking. Kris n Mulhall works in both worlds. A former grand-prix-level show jumper, she now trains a string of racehorses at major southern California racetracks. In her spare me she rescues and rehabilitates Thoroughbreds and other horses at her Twilight Farms in Covina. Mulhall also retrains horses re red by their owners. Currently she’s working with 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf Spring winner Obviously, an earner of more than $2 million whose owners want him to have a good second career. Some mes Mulhall acquires Thoroughbreds with illegible lip ta oos and unknown racing histories, so she doesn't’ know what they’ve experienced. But no ma er their background, she gives them me mentally to acclimate to their surroundings before teaching them new skills.
O1en racetrack grooms pick out all the feet while standing on their le1 (near) side, and horses become adept at having their off-side feet picked up this way. Mulhall cau oned people to be especially careful when handling racehorses on their right side. “They always swing their hop to the right because they’re used to everyone being on their le1,” she says. “I think it’s safer to pick a racehorse’s hind feet from the same side because when they’re ed up, they will swing that hip over.” Typically, racetrack grooms e a horse in the stall for grooming, tacking up, bandaging, etc. That differs from nonracing stables, where people tend to groom horses in cross es or other areas outside the stall. Racehorses might know about cross es if they were raised at farms or spent me at layup facili es that used them. But don’t assume your OTTB understands these contrap ons.
Bath Time Basics Something as commonplace as a snaking garden hose could frighten a former racehorse, simply because their daily baths didn’t include one. “A lot of racetrack barns don’t use a hose—they use a sponge,” says Mulhall. “They will use a bucket of soapy water and a bucket of clean water. And the water is warm.” Mulhall prefers to use a hose with her racehorses because she feels she an be er rinse off all the soap. “But I’ve go en plenty of horses off the track that if you turn a hose on their feet, they freak out,” she says. “I’ve seen a lot of barns in Florida that refuse to let the grooms put water on the horses’ feet.” Some racehorse trainers feel that if horses have their feet hosed off every day, it will make the hooves too so1. So grooms will clean a horse’s feet with brushes instead of water. Many racehorses are Grooming and Tying used to having all four feet picked out With daily care, racehorses become from the left side. very used to having their feet handled.
Ex-racehorses might be more accustomed to being tied in a stall, not crossties, for grooming. “I just loop the ropes over the cross es without typing them and slowly get them used to it,” says Mulhall. “I start by tying them outside in a pen to get them used to being tied outside of a stall.” Mulhall uses a hot-walking machine primarily to help horses learn to e outside (hers involves clipping a horse to a revolving arm, rather than turning him loose between gates). Racehorse stables, par cularly smaller ones, might use hot-walking machines, but major opera ons usually walk all horses by hand every day a1er their morning training. An employee known as a hot-walker leads the horse through the shedrow or outside the barn in an area specially designated for walking.
Before You Hop On Trainers also use the outside walking area to walk fully tacked horse before they go to the track for morning training. The trainer gives a leg up to the exercise rider in the mornings. On a1ernoons when a horse races, the trainer also gives a leg up to the jockey in the racetrack walking ring. Cont’d on pg. 16
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 16 Cont’d from pg. 15 As a result, racehorses are unfamiliar with not only moun ng blocks but also weight in the le1 s rrup as a rider swings up from the ground. “You cannot put a foot in the s rrup and climb up on them the way a Western rider would,” says Mulhall.” They get a li le bit scared some me of people over their head. They’ll move away from you or they’ll turn toward you to face you. So you have to have somebody hold them at the moun ng block.” Mulhall also recommends people mount former racehorses quickly un l they learn to stand quietly. “Don’t give the horse too much me to think.”
The constant handling of racehorses also includes plenty of hauling experience. Most racing is done on a circuit, with no one track running year-round. Horses van or fly to other loca ons frequently. Vans are typically large and roomy with ramps. Most racehorses aren’t used to small two-horse trainers, especially step-up trailers. “You want to have a trailer that’s tall, a Warmblood-sized trailer,” says Mulhall. “I have a slant-load that I absolutely love. It’s extra tall and extra wide, and they all just walk in and load.” With a slant-load trailer Mulhall can turn a horse around and lead it out, as is done with a racehorse van, instead of having to back the horse out.
Lessons Already Learned
Parting Tips
Riders in English disciplines o1en braid a horse’s mane for a clean look, and you might think that would be a new experience for your OTTB. But many are already familiar with mane braiding for a much different reason. When a horse breaks out of the star ng gate, it is an explosive move for which the jockey must be ready. Grooms o1en braid a racehorse’s mane so the jockey can unbraid it on the trip to the star ng gate. The kinked mane gives the jockeys an extra place to grip. The race-day rou ne offers another advantage, especially if a horse’s second career will include showing and associated drug tests. Because racehorses get tested frequently to be sure they have no unlawful medica ons in their systems, many grooms train them to urinate upon hearing a whistle. Knowing that might save you me in a horse show drug tes ng situa on.
Mulhall suggests owners of off-track Thoroughbreds handle their horses at different hours of the day. A racehorse’s rou ne at the track is very rigid, and they are used to being le1 alone in their stalls all a1ernoon unless racing. “At a show-horse barn, the horses might get out at any ne of the day,” Mulhall says. “If you’re going to show them, you never know when your class is. You don’t want a horse that’s going to get cranky in the stall later in the a1ernoon. It’s good for them to be outside at different mes.” Knowing the difference between your barn and a typical racing barn can help you help your off-track Thoroughbred adjust to his new home. Originally published in Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine (Summer 2018). Reprinted with permission from the Re$red Racehorse Project. Want more OTTB content? Become an RRP member at re$redracehorseproject.org.
Horses Bring Humane Education to Youths Every day we are reminded during moments like the ones pictured here just how lucky we are to have a great team of equine ambassadors teaching the next genera on of horse owners and advocates about compassion, empathy and responsible animal stewardship. Patuxent Valley Middle School students gained basic horse care skills and confidence on a field trip to DEFHR in May. For more informa on about our educa on programs which include group tours, field trips, scout days and internships, visit our website.
“A great horse will change your life. The truly special ones define it." –Unknown
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 17
Spring/Early Summer Bring 41 Rescues to DEFHR April through June were busy months for seizures of neglected and abused horses in our community, meaning lots of new arrivals at DEFHR. One call came from Cecil County, MD Animal Services about two ponies suffering from years of hoof neglect. One pony was in so much pain, he could barely stand. Within days of arrival, the ponies, renamed Joey and Joey’s hooves were neglected, resulting in severe overgrowth and deformity. Kizmet, were examined by the veterinarian twice and had x-rays to determine the best course of treatment. Both were put on an extensive pain management plan with 24-hour-a-day monitoring. A1er weeks of vet/farrier treatments, Kizmet remained in considerable pain, so the decision was made to humanely euthanize him. Joey is progressing but has a long way to go. While recovering, he enjoys geKng pampered by volunteers and staff. Dory (pictured right) came from Calvert County, MD. She was emaciated and suffering from lack of food, water, dental care, hoof care and parasite management. It was unclear how long her needs had gone un-met but, sadly, Dory’s companion did not live long enough to receive interven on. A1er months of careful refeeding, daily care and a en on, Dory has blossomed into a sweet, kind mare who enjoys affec on and a en on from her caregivers.
Dory has blossomed into a beautiful mare through lots of TLC!
Celebrating a Few of Our 23 Rescues in Their New Homes! Twenty-three horses have been adopted during the first six months of the year. Dobbin’s Dapper Drummer (le1) is a chill gelding who loves hanging out with people. He was adopted to be a therapy horse for Trails of Purpose, a unique nonprofit that helps veterans overcome trauma through the partnership of horses and humans. We love receiving updates and seeing how well Dobbin is doing in his new home! From being rescued last year and part of a neglect case to becoming a therapy horse aiding veterans six months later, we are so proud of him, and thankful for opportuni es to support other nonprofits and organiza ons connec ng horses and humans.
Dobbin relating to veterans at Trails of Purpose
The same week Dobbin was adopted, Umi found a wonderful home; Zuzu found his right person; and Shawnee was adopted by the same family that also adopted Trinket and Yi le, so our three li le gray minis from Frederick County have all be reunited. Exci ng!
Umi
Zuzu
Shawnee
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Spring/Summer 2019, pg. 18
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING GRANTORS ASPCA Bernice Barbour Founda on Greenberg Animal Welfare Founda on Mars Founda on Maryland Horse Industry Board Pennsylvania Na onal Horse Show Ray Rowe Trusts for Animals Right Horse Ini a ve/ Watershed Animal Fund Thoroughbred A1ercare Alliance Founda on Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign
For the Horses Triple Crown Senior Feed Two-Wheel Rubbermaid Wheelbarrows CocoSoya Oil Pure MSM Powder Fly Spray-any type/brand Triple An bio c Ointment (people or horse kind) Tuff Stuff Hoof Hardener Thrush Buster Vet Wrap Ulcergard (1, 3 or 6 tube packs) Safe Guard paste (Fenbendazole Dewormer) Pyrantel Paste Dewormer Equimax Dewormer Strongid 2X Daily Dewormer Pellets Education • Stethoscopes • New desktop computers • Lamination sleeves • Clipboards • Dry-erase markers
For the Office • Copy paper • Forever stamps • Paper clips • Pens
NEWS Around the Farm (as of June 25, 2019)
New Arrivals: Dobbin’s Dapper Drummer, Elvis’ Electric Empire, Ferdinand’s Festive Fandango, Gypsy’s Good Groove, High Hills Huckleberry, Ian’s Iron Illusion, Jasmine’s Jersey Jammer, Kaley’s Kinetic Karisma, Lila’s Loop Lane, Mr. M. Magoo, Newt’s Nifty Niffler, Olly Olly Oxen-free, Petite Peppy Panda, Quinlan’s Quirky Quo, Rib-Rab Reuben, Sage’s Say So, Tide’s Titan Trophy, Under Umu’s Umbrella, Vi Vacious Velvet, Woolly Winter Waldo, Asara, Bubbles, Cheeky, Dory, Electra, Finley, Giggles, Howie, Inch, Joey, Kizmet, Lemon, Murphy, Nell, O’Malley, Pippen, Quail, Roma, Skye, Twiggy, Umay, Vito, Wellington, Xavi, Yuko, Zeke, Arbitrary Ares, Bold Bartholomew, Captain Cupid, Dally Dan, Elegant Eliza, Flashy Fallon, Graceful Geisha, Huey’s Horizon, Iconic Indigo, Jazzy Jet, Kahlua Knight, La Latte, Miss Madeline, Nifty Nanook, Oda’s Odessy, Quizzical Quarts, Red Raider, Summer Solstice, Tranquil Tuesday
Off-Site Training/Foster Velvet, Gypsy, Lover’s Lane, Jasmine
Adopted
23 horses adopted 2019 YTD Returned Dawn’s Delight, Ebba’s Everlasting Eternity, Lover’s Lane, Daphne
RIP Buckeye Billy, August Amazing Adventure, Iman Image, Beatrice, Groovy Glory, Remington, Longeared Linus, Asara, Sun Shine, Ian, Cheeky, Flashy Fallon, Graceful Geisha, Kizmet, Twiggy, Pippen, Red Raider, Timbuck Too
Special thanks to: Susan Rosenberg and Rebecca Gaffney, Contributing Editors and Bette Dolan, THE OUTER OFFICE, for printing this issue of “Horse Talk.”
One morning in May of this year, Ziporah confidently walked through our common area and into the main barn to have her hooves trimmed. Her coat glistening in the sun, she was healthy and happy–a far cry from where she was a year ago. It almost seems impossible that just the May before, this mare was in the fight for her life. She was being walked through the common area, just like she was today, but she was so weak she fell down and couldn’t get up. Our team used a tractor and large animal li1 to get Ziporah back on her feet and led her to a cri cal care stall where she received 24-hour care for the next six weeks while being supported by an Anderson Sling. Since that day, gentle Ziporah has made a full recovery and has become one of our equine ambassadors. She has touched the lives of hundreds of visitors to our farm; introduced new volunteers and supporters to the world of horses; and fueled people’s passion to volunteer, donate or one day adopt a horse of their own. Zip’s story reminds us of what is possible when people work together to make change happen. We are so grateful for all our supporters who make transforma*ons like Ziporah's possible!
DAYS END FARM HORSE RESCUE 1372 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, MD 21797 (Mail) P.O. Box 309, Lisbon, MD 21765-0309 (301) 854-5037, (410) 442-1564; www.defhr.org, info@defhr.org
YES! I want to help the hor ses!
Spring/Summer 2019 NL
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